Max the Dragon

When the kings of Kloon send off to Dilge for a mail-order dragon, naturally they expect something large and fierce. Imagine their surprise when they open the box labeled ``DRAGON'' and out pops a tap-dancing mouse named Max and his insect sidekick, Clement Farber. (The crooks who run Dilge have swindled the kings, taking their gold and sending an empty box--in which the tiny twosome has stowed away--in return.) In a classic case of mistaken identity, the kings assume Max is just a bit ``on the skimpy side,'' and sic him on Fragus, the greedy, odorous monster plaguing their kingdom. During the resulting shenanigans, Max's fancy footwork dazzles the monster right into the now-empty dragon box and back to the con artists in Dilge. Stern's gloriously goofy tale is the stuff of high farce, reminiscent at times of Roald Dahl, and his illustrations--artful scribbles, really--play a perfect counterpoint. Ages 3-7. (Sept.)